The Portland daily press., 1887-08-22
TO THE MEMORY OF A
FEMALE STRANGER,
Whose mortal sufferings terminated
on the 4th day of october, 1915.
aged % years and g months.

When saw the tomb a bouquet of fresh
flowers was found lying upon itand learned
that nearly every day this occurs, and the
tomb Is seldom without its tribute of flowers
except IN the extreme wintry months. Many
OF these offerings are wild fiowers-hearts-
ease, golden rod, clover and daises-but oc-
casiOnally bouquets are placed upon the tomb
which are specimens of the finest and cost
liest work OF the florists and made up of the
rarest and most delicate flowers from the
Conservatives. Choice eXotics and beautiful
flowers from tie Conservatives of Washing
ton nave been placed ON this mysterious
grave in midwinter
There Is no man or woman, Alexandria
born, who will not readily recount to you the
legend of the female stranger, but they diff
fer essentially in minor details, and indeed
ia some of the principal points. One thing
Is sure, the woman who was buried there
was unknown in Alexandria, as was the
man who claimed to be her husband. They
came to Alexandria upon a foreign vessel
and took quarters at the leading hotel.
Some say it was the City Hotel, or tina In
dian Queen Hotel, and that 1t is now the old
Braddock House of which wrote. She was
beautiful young girl. and he a handsome
and MISUNDERSTANDING man. They had
one servant, and gave evidence of being peo-
pie OF high rank and great wealth. The old
legends of Alexandria are still full of the
stories, dimmed by distance in time. of her
beauty, her jewels aud her magnificent
wardrobe.
The two had the best quarters in the hotel
nothing that money could buy did they deny
themselves, but they absolutely refused to
make any acquaintance or give any clew to
their identity, and all inducements to the
valet who accompanied them were in vain
lie would never speak, and nothing could be
gathered about them beyond the belief that
they were English in blood and noble in rank
Inc snip they came in had sailed away
ana her people knew as little about her as
the Alexandria folks did, and with her de-
paIture all clew to them was lost.
One gentleman tells me that his mother
often told him the story of the beautiful Fe-
male Stranger, and he had heard it told hun
dreds of times. His mother and grand
mother united in declaring her very beauti-
tul young woman, kind and gracious, evil
IDENTIFY born lady. They say she and the
gentleman with her were English in appear
ance. She was above medium height, with
full voluptuous figure and masses of blonde
hair. Her eyes were large and expressive,
her mouth particularly small and sweet.
Her manner while dignifed, was condos
cending and pleasant, and as she drove about
Alexandra no person ever appealed to her
in vain for charity. To the charities and
charitable organizations she gave literally,
put refused to attend any meeting or receive
any visitors.
Five months after they came to Alexan-
dria, the young wife became ill with one OF
those low feyers peculiar to newly settled
country and died.
Whenever the physician was present either
the husband or valet was also present She
was never allowed to be alone with any per-
son except those accompanying her, and when
see died she layiin the arms OF her husband
with his lips pressed to hers.
Only he and the valet were present to bury
her. He sought the pleasant spot where the
tomb ROW stands, upon high ground and al
ready taken for a cemetery by st. Paul's
church. He and the valet were the only
mourners. He staid long enough to order
and see completed and placed over the grave
the elaborate and handsome tablet as it now
stands, left sum of money to keep it in re-
pair for a term Of years, with promise that
ne would come again or send money when
that was expended, took ship and sailed
away, and was never heard of after
There are persons who assert that persons
who saw the gentleman in Alexandria saw
him afterward in New Orleans, and
some even say that he came to Alexandria
years afterward and visited the grave of his
wife, Another story pretty well believed in
and coming down from reliable authority, is
that one evening vessel. evidently foreign
man OF war, anchored just below Alexan.
drla. During the night the commander and
two boats crews came off and went to the
grave OF the Female Stranger, exhumed the
remains, took them to the ship, and at dav
break dropped down the river and disap-
peared.
Many believe this story to be true. and thai
If the grave were opened an empty coffin
vault would be found; for the coffin, accord
ing to account, was placed in a sOlidly con.
sstructed stone vault six feet beneath the sur.
face.
Half dozen different novels and stories
have been constructed upon or woven in
with all that is known of the Female Strang.
er, and so much fiction and imagination have
still further served to confuse and obscure
the real facts. One of the stories is entitled
Narration OF John Trust, translated from
This purports to have been done by
William +. Crane" and the latter says by
way of preface
II owe it to candor to say that the mem.
cries of the oldest inhabitants, the news
paper files, and John Trusts Narrative, are
in perfect accord, -. but do not in.
tend that it shall rest ON my voucher, and |
distinctly avOw that if proofs of its CREDIBLE.
ity are not found in the Narrative itself, they
are found nowhere else.'.
This is given as an extract from letter
from Mr.. Crane" dated July 10, 1885,
John Trusts Narrative think a fiction
built upon the mystery of the Female
Stranger, but it is quite plausible one. and
adds greatly to the interest of the matter and
its fascination.